Shelburne, NH – It’s time for runners and bicyclists to shift their training schedules into high gear! The twenty third annual Wildman Biathlon, one of the toughest multi-sport events in New England, is scheduled for Saturday, August 13th at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine.

Athletes from all over the United States, Canada and some years even other countries, come to New Hampshire’s White Mountains to compete as an individual or in teams in the Wildman. For twenty-three years now athletes have been challenging their endurance amid some of the most spectacular scenery in the Northeast. The Wildman Biathlon consists of a 10-K run in the picturesque town of Shelburne, a 22.3 mile bicycle trek through Gorham towards a 3-mile hill climb up the Polecat ski trail to the finish line at the summit of Wildcat Mountain, a presenting sponsor, located in Pinkham Notch.

The race begins with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. The winners usually cross the finish line about two hours and fifteen minutes later. Though many individual competitors complete the entire race, many others choose to combine their abilities as two-person and three-person teams. The entry fees for the 2011 Wildman Biathlon are $50.00 for an individual, $100.00 for a two-person team, and $150.00 for a three-person team. This price goes up by $10 per person after July 30, 2011. The entry fee includes a limited edition Wildman T-shirt, a ride down from the summit on the Wildcat Mountain Scenic Gondola, a support person Gondola ticket, and one meal ticket for the “apres-race” meal. Additional meal tickets and Gondola tickets are available for purchase if needed. Categories are available for all ages and team configurations. Overall and category winners receive commemorative awards, and numerous other prizes are awarded through random drawings.

The Wildman Biathlon is a fundraising event for the Coos County RSVP, a Tri-County CAP sponsored program. RSVP is hoping to have a great sponsorship turnout this year as they have lost the other half of their State funding. This leaves RSVP trying to raise in excess of $17,000 and that doesn’t count the amount of federal dollars lost as a result of no State local funding. RSVP matches individuals age 55 and older with volunteer opportunities at non-profit and public agencies in their communities. About 375 volunteers gave more than 55,000 hours of service at 62 sites throughout Coos County last year. Through a variety of service roles these volunteers are helping to meet community needs. Visit our web page www.ncia.net/wildman to view information about the Wildman and our sponsors. For more information about RSVP or how you can become a sponsor, contact Kathy or Nancy at 752-4103 or e-mail [email]rsvp@ncia.net[/email] or write to Coos County RSVP, 30 Exchange Street, Berlin, NH 03570.